“Fashion is very much an art form not in spite of the body, but because of it,” says Andrew Bolton, OBE, curator in charge of the Costume Institute. And this year’s exhibition, “Costume Art,” seeks not just to address this tantalizingly complex issue, but to explore it in all its many facets. The central thesis is as simple as it is thrilling: pair existing artworks with corresponding garments or accessories and let your synapses fire. The very layout of the show—broken into sections that move from Biblical nudity to the au courant idea of body diversity to the ways in which we’ve long used clothes not merely to adorn but to subvert and distort the body—indicates just how richly drawn this subject is and why it’s mesmerized artists since time immemorial.
Sinéad Burke, CEO of Tilting the Lens, emphasizes how this exhibit highlights bodies that have traditionally been overlooked, and as someone with a physical disability, she is among those featured. Her body has been memorialized in the exhibition as a custom mannequin, alongside model and musician Aariana Rose Philip, transforming their presence into a lasting part of the narrative around representation, fashion, and identity.
Additionally, this exhibition will be the first in the costume department’s new home, the Conde M. Nast Galleries. Once relegated to a modest 4,500-square-foot space in the museum’s basement, the department will now take flight in a grand, 12,000-square-foot display room on the ground floor, just off the central Great Hall. It is, says Max Hollein, the museum’s director, a symbol of how important clothing has become to The Met’s mission in exploring the many facets of art in the modern age. “We collect paintings, sculptures, textiles, arms and armor, but especially all the fashion,” he says. “And we want to make sure that it’s understood that fashion is a fantastic form of art.”
Featuring testimonials from Misty Copeland, Alex Consani, Gwendoline Christie, Aimee Mullins, Sinéad Burke, Aariana Rose Philip and more.
Director: Nina Ljeti
Directors of Photography: Michael Lopez, Henry Gill
Editor: Evan Allan
Senior Producer: Bety Dereje
Producer: Rashida Josiah
Associate Producers: Anisa Kennar, Justine Ramirez, Lea Donenberg
Camera Operator: Chanthila Phaophanit
Assistant Camera: Kahdeem Prosper Jefferson, Gordan Wong
Gaffers: Billy Voermann, Mary Kalecinska
Swing: Alex Frischman
Audio: Mariya Chulichkova, Joanna Hunt
Set Designers: Ilana Portney, Dana Keren
Production Assistants: Quinton Johnson, Myles Haywood
Runners: Edie Chesters, Rachel Ademidun
Groomer for Andrew Bolton: Shin Arima
Makeup Artist for Sinéad Burke and Alex Consani: Ai Yokomizo
Hairstylist for Sinéad Burke and Alex Consani: Sonny Molina
Makeup Artist for Misty Copeland: Victor Henao
Hairstylist for Misty Copeland: Nai’vasha Grace
Makeup Artist for Aariana Philip: Meadow Soleil Cloud
Makeup Artist for Gwendoline Christie: Daniel Kolaric
Hairstylist for Gwendoline Christie: Joe Kelly
Hair & Makeup Artist for Aimee Mullins: Stèfan Jemeel
Production Coordinator: Tanía Jones
Production Manager: Kristen Helmick
Senior Production Manager: Venita Singh-Warner
Line Producer: Natasha Soto-Albors
Assistant Editors: Andy Morell, Fynn Lithgow
Senior Motion Graphics Designer: Samuel Fuller
Post Production Coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Kameron Key
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Entertainment Director: Sergio Kletnoy
Global Talent Casting Directors: Ignacio Murillo, Morgan Senesi
Executive Producer: Rahel Gebreyes
Senior Director, Digital Video: Romy van den Broeke
Senior Director, Programming: Linda Gittleson
VP, Video Programming: Thespena Guatieri
Florist: London Blooming Haus
Photography By Paul Westlake
Images Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Special Thanks: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Ken
February 10, 2023 at 10:04 pm
I can see him playing Mr. Fantastic in the MCU. Keep the beard!
dashyy
February 11, 2023 at 4:14 am
heck yes
Bluevegito-69
February 11, 2023 at 5:43 am
I hope he does,That would be a great project for Penn
the knight
February 11, 2023 at 6:46 am
Yep he will be great
Olugboye Opeyemi
February 11, 2023 at 8:25 am
No I actually NEED Penn Badgley as a new Marvel Superhero!!!
mooncosmicpower
February 10, 2023 at 10:17 pm
Wednesday adams is staking you
loveforeignaccents
February 10, 2023 at 10:45 pm
Well, I no longer have Netflix to watch, but was super glad when love (supposedly) died. Couldn’t stand her.
shalalaleciouc
February 10, 2023 at 11:15 pm
Lol sorry but I hope love is gone
dashyy
February 11, 2023 at 4:14 am
same am i the only person who couldn’t stand her character? everyone else seems to be in love with her…
dontlikeusernames
February 10, 2023 at 11:20 pm
IRL it’s so interesting he is a Scorpio sun, and his wife is a Scorpio moon!
dashyy
February 11, 2023 at 4:13 am
bro shut up
dontlikeusernames
February 10, 2023 at 11:20 pm
So will we finally see Ellie’s character again s4?!
tellmelies
February 11, 2023 at 10:24 am
no, jenna ortega was busy with wednesday ????
dontlikeusernames
February 11, 2023 at 1:00 pm
@tellmelies 🙁
Shelly
February 11, 2023 at 3:29 am
“But you’re wrong, OR ARE YOU?”
Mao Genesis
February 11, 2023 at 6:33 am
We want love back!!!! ???? I miss her so much????
Sarah
February 11, 2023 at 7:21 am
YESS
Madam Isabel Melvin Wangaratta IV
February 11, 2023 at 6:34 am
Love is bae <3
Sarah
February 11, 2023 at 7:21 am
Fr!
Sarah
February 11, 2023 at 7:20 am
I love you Penn❤ love this show. Wish she was
Sarah
February 11, 2023 at 7:21 am
Me forgetting Jenna is in it❤
Olugboye Opeyemi
February 11, 2023 at 8:24 am
He’s so Daddy????????
StrawberryBubblegum
February 11, 2023 at 10:48 am
I swear if you don’t bring Love back…..
tatia archvadze
February 11, 2023 at 3:47 pm
????♥️ we want more Love’s flashbacks
Nique
February 11, 2023 at 4:34 pm
TBH is love was there in season 4 she would’ve known who the killer was in the first episode hands down. She was like him but she was also better because she had an innocent vibe and look to her so she’s overlooked in general, but she’s constantly aware of everyone around her